Marijuana and Cannabis News

Jacob Jordan, 32, died in the Baldwin County jail due to inadequate medical treatment after being arrested for marijuana.

​Family members of a 32-year-old Alabama man who died in his jail cell last month a week after being arrested for possession of marijuana said they tried to warn officers about his fragile health, but were ignored.

Jacob Ashley Jordan was found dead in his cell at the Baldwin County Corrections Center at about 1 a.m. July 9, according to the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office, reports Connie Baggett at the Mobile Press-Register.

Jordan had a "pre-existing medical condition," according to Sheriff's spokesman Maj. Anthony Lowery, and had been moved into the jail's medical wing. Lowery claimed that the inmate had received medical treatment from nurses.

Jordan, who lived in Eight Mile, Ala., was found dead in his cell, according to Lowery.

The officer refused to give details, citing privacy laws that protect medical information, but did say there was "no evidence of any physical injury."

Jordan was booked into the county jail on July 2 after being transferred from the Mobile Metro Jail on a second-deree possession of marijuana charge and "hunting violations," Lowery said.

Marijuana is known to help many of the symptoms of Addison's disease, including vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss and headaches.

Late on the afternoon of July 8, Jordan began experiencing health problems, and was moved into the medical block of the jail for treatment and observation.

Maj. Lowery claimed Jordan was under medical care of the jail's doctor and nurses at the time of his death.

The case is being investigated by the Baldwin County District Attorney's Office, the Alabama Bureau of Investigation, the Baldwin County Coroner's Office and the Sheriff's Office, as is standard policy, the Press-Register reports.

Jordan's body was moved to the Alabama Department of Forensic Science in Mobile for an autopsy, according to Lowery.

There is much more to the story, according to Jordan's mother, Peggy Jordan of Eight Mile, who said she wanted some answers.

"The sheriff told me J.J. and three others were sitting in their cell watching television when J.J. slumped over and his heart stopped," Peggy Jordan said. "They tried CPR, but couldn't revive him. I told them over and over he had Addison's disease and that he needed treatment."

"This didn't have to happen," the grieving mother said.

"Left the man to die over a second degree weed charge and a hunting violation," commented "TinFoilHatGuy" on the Press-Register's site. "I am sorry but even the law-and-order crowd has to say that is not any kind of justice I ever heard about."

"So dude had a joint and the county kills him for it," agreed another commenter, "badfish1060." "There is no reason to arrest people on these non-violent charges; give them a citation and be done with it. If you must do anything at all."